Boot system with decorative inserts

ABSTRACT

Systems and articles of manufacture are provided for a footwear system including a boot or other type of shoe comprising one or more insert sleeves configured to receive one or more decorative and/or exchangeable inserts. In one embodiment, an insert sleeve may encircle a calf portion of a boot to receive an insert overlapped in the insert sleeve to create a cylindrical shape.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/719,547 filed Oct. 29, 2012, entitled “BOOT WITH DECORATIVE INSERTS,” which is incorporated by reference in the present application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An understanding of embodiments described in this disclosure and many of the attendant advantages may be readily obtained by reference to the following detailed description when considered with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of an example insert of an example boot system, according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an example boot of an example boot system, according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of an example boot of an example boot system, according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 depicts an example boot system, according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A. Introduction

Applicants have recognized that, in accordance with some embodiments described in this disclosure, some types of fashion-conscious shoppers and other types of consumers may find it beneficial to have footwear (e.g., boots, shoes) that can be customized and/or decorated by the user with different colors, styles and/or patterns.

Applicants have recognized that it may be desirable, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, for some types of users to decorate different types of footwear in order to make them more attractive, stylish, versatile and/or changeable. Some types of consumers may find it desirable to be able to give their footwear items, such as a favorite pair of boots, a different look for different occasions, for different weather conditions and/or for different times of the day. Applicants have recognized that this would be a budget friendly way to make a practical rain boot fashion friendly, as well as bring in additional revenue after the sale of the rain boot because customers would always be looking for new colors and patterns to add to their collections.

Some embodiments discussed in this disclosure are descriptive of methods and articles of manufacture providing for decorative customization (e.g., by a user) of boots and other types of footwear.

Some embodiments provide for methods and articles of manufacture allowing a user to insert one or more decorative and/or customizing inserts into one or more sleeves, pockets or other type of receiving portion of a boot, for displaying the inserted insert(s). In some embodiments, a user may insert a piece of decorative material into a clear display sleeve, envelope or holder on a calf portion or other portion of a boot. In one or more embodiments, the sleeve may be made of plastic, rubber, and/or a rubberized material that has been coated, treated, and/or impregnated with rubber (e.g., a rubberized plastic).

According to some embodiments, methods and articles of manufacture provide for a rain boot that can be adapted to be many different colors and patterns, allowing a consumer to invest in one pair of boots that can be adapted to match any outfit, style and/or color.

According to one or more embodiments, systems and articles of manufacture are provided comprising (i) at least one boot and/or other type of footwear having at least one insert sleeve, and (ii) at least one insert for inserting in the insert sleeve.

According to one or more embodiments, a system is provided that includes a rain boot (e.g., comprising waterproof material) having at least one insert sleeve for receiving an insert, and at least one decorative insert for inserting in the at least one insert sleeve.

According to some embodiments, a boot comprises a transparent outer sleeve portion encircling at least a portion of a calf of the boot. The sleeve portion includes an opening for receiving at least one insert and a closing means for closing the opening to secure the insert in the sleeve portion and/or to protect the insert and/or interior of the sleeve portion from exposure to environmental elements (e.g., rain, snow, dirt).

In one example embodiment, a boot (e.g., a rain boot) is available in basic colors on the toe, heel and sole of the shoe that would remain constant. According to the example, the upper calf of the boot would be a clear rubberized and waterproof material that allows for the insertion of a pre-printed, patterned insert to show through. A user is able to slip the patterned and/or colored insert into the clear cavity of the calf portion and then seal the boot off with a waterproof fastener, zipper, hook and eye fastener (e.g., Velcro®) or closure of some kind.

Applicants have recognized that rain boots are the most practical pair of shoes a fashionista can invest in because it rains almost everywhere, affecting almost everyone. Therefore, a pair of rain boots that can be made to match any outfit, at any time, in accordance with one or more embodiments, would be highly desirable to a client looking to remain fashion forward even in the worst of weather. Rain apparel plays an important role in a university student's wardrobe. After one day of sore feet from walking around campus in cheap rain boots, a student may invest in a very comfortable designer pair. If it rains a lot, multiple times a week a student needs to wear the same color clothes to match her boots. A new pair may not match existing purchases, such as coats, jackets, and/or raincoats. Girls and women who own rain boots may share the same problem of finding different outfits to match their boots.

Although boots, and particularly rain boots, may be referenced in this disclosure, it will be readily understood that some embodiments of the present invention may be implemented with one or more other various types of footwear.

In some embodiments, boots may be available for sale with at least one insert (e.g., a solid color that matches the boot). Alternatively or in addition, according to some embodiments, sleeve inserts may be available separately for sale in solid colors and/or patterns.

B. General Systems and Articles of Manufacture

FIG. 1 depicts an example insert 100 (e.g., for use with a boot system) in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the insert 100 may have a regular (e.g., rectangular, square) or irregular shape. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the insert 100 may be tapered or otherwise configured so that when opposite edges of the insert are brought together the resulting structure conforms to the shape of a corresponding sleeve portion of a boot. For example, edges of the insert 100 may be brought together (e.g., when inserted in a corresponding insert sleeve of a boot) to form a tapered, cylindrical shape conforming to a tapered calf portion of a boot. As discussed in this disclosure, inserts may be available in one or more colors and/or patterns.

In one example, the insert 100 may comprise a panel of material suitable to be flattened for storage purposes and suitably flexible for conforming to the shape of one or more insert sleeves. In one example, the insert 100 may comprise rubber or a rubber-like material able to flex and move as the wearer takes a step (similar to the material used in constructing the boots). In some embodiments, the insert 100 does not comprise any paper or plastic materials.

According to some embodiments, an insert comprises one or more patterns and may be inserted one or more at a time in a corresponding insert sleeve. Inserts may be interchanged, as desired by a user (e.g., to match other clothing items).

FIG. 2 depicts an example boot 200 of an example boot system according to one or more embodiments. The example boot 200 comprises an outer insert sleeve 202 for receiving a removable insert (e.g., insert 100). As depicted, the outer insert sleeve 202 surrounds an inner boot layer 204 of the boot 200 of the calf portion of the boot, and is constructed of a transparent material (e.g., rubber, plastic, rubberized plastic (or other type of rubberized material)).

As shown in FIG. 2, the insert sleeve 202 may comprise a fastener or closing means such as zipper 206 for opening and closing the insert sleeve (e.g., for inserting and/or removing an insert). In some embodiments, a fastener may be available in one or more color options.

An insert may be manipulated by a user, according to some embodiments, so that two opposite edges overlap in the insert sleeve 202 in the back of the boot 200 (e.g., forming a cylindrical shape around the boot's calf). In one embodiment, an ornamental seam or other portion (not shown) may be placed down the back of the calf of a boot to obscure where the edges of the insert meet or overlap. For example, a vertical strip of material (e.g., incorporating a company logo) outside of the insert sleeve 200 may extend the height of the insert sleeve 200, and may be the same color as the foot or base portion of the boot. Accordingly, the vertical strip map cover the overlap as well and/or eliminate a need for a fastener to fasten the edges of the insert together.

The inner boot layer 204 may or may not be constructed of the same material and/or may be the same color as one or more other portions of the boot. The boot may also comprise a foot portion 208, sole 210, and/or a top portion 212, and may contain one or more other types of ornamental or functional components.

FIG. 3 depicts an alternative example boot 300 of an example boot system according to one or more embodiments. The example boot 300 comprises an outer insert sleeve 302 for receiving a removable insert. In contrast to the example boot 200, boot 300 comprises a vertical zipper 306 for inserting and/or removing an insert. Accordingly, the zipper 306 may cover any overlap of edges of an insert inserted in the outer insert sleeve 302 and wrapped around the calf portion.

FIG. 4 depicts an example boot system 400 comprising a boot (e.g., boot 200) and an insert 404 inserted in an outer insert sleeve 402. As shown, fastener 406 has been closed to protect and secure the insert 404 in the insert sleeve 402. The insert 404 is visible through the example clear material of the insert sleeve 402.

C. Example Slip and Slide Boot System

The following non-limiting example scenario discusses an example embodiment called a “Slip and Slide Boot” embodied as a rain boot. Slip and Slide Boots solve the problem some types of consumers may experience in finding different outfits to match one or more different pairs of boot(s). They may come in solid colors (e.g., black, red, grey, silver, gold, purple, navy blue, or orange, or the like) that show on the toes and/or heel. The boot may have a clear plastic and/or rubberized calf. A user may insert inserts (e.g., that may be purchased separately) that come in one or more solid colors and/or patterns into one or more sleeves of the plastic calf portion, allowing the boot to match any outfit and/or different types of outfits. One or more different inserts may be used to decorate the example Slip and Slide Boot. It will be readily understood that a boot may have any number of sleeves as desirable for a particular implementation, and that a consumer may utilize any desired number of one or more inserts, in any desired colors and/or patterns (e.g., all the same, all different, some the same and others different).

Additional Information

While the disclosure has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is evident in view of the foregoing description that numerous alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

Numerous embodiments are described in this patent application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications and alterations. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The present disclosure is neither a literal description of all embodiments of the invention nor a listing of features of the invention that must be present in all embodiments.

The Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of this patent application) is not to be taken as limiting in any way the scope of the disclosed invention(s).

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, “one embodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) disclosed embodiments”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps, that does not indicate that all or even any of the steps are essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of the described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step is essential or required.

Although a product may be described as including a plurality of components, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, that does not indicate that all of the plurality are essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality.

Headings of sections provided in this patent application and the title of this patent application are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A customizable rain boot system, comprising: a boot comprising: a foot portion, and a calf portion connected to the foot portion, the calf portion comprising a waterproof display sleeve having an inner layer, a transparent outer layer, a sealable opening for receiving at least one insert, and a fastener for sealing the sealable opening; and at least one insert comprising a segment of material having a length sufficient to encompass a circumference of the calf portion within the waterproof display sleeve.
 2. The customizable rain boot system of claim 1, wherein the inner layer is constructed of the same material as the foot portion.
 3. The customizable rain boot system of claim 1, the boot further comprising: a top portion affixed to a top edge of the calf portion.
 4. The customizable rain boot system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of inserts, each insert having a respective pattern.
 5. The customizable rain boot system of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a horizontal zipper for sealing the sealable opening at a top edge of the waterproof display sleeve.
 6. The customizable rain boot system of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a vertical zipper for sealing the sealable opening.
 7. The customizable rain boot system of claim 1, the waterproof display sleeve further comprising a vertical strip configured for obscuring an overlap of edges of an insert inserted in the waterproof display sleeve.
 8. The customizable rain boot system of claim 1, the at least one insert being constructed of a flexible material suitable for wrapping the at least one insert around the calf portion of the boot.
 9. The customizable rain boot system of claim 1, the boot further comprising a sole portion connected to the foot portion.
 10. The customizable rain boot system of claim 1, the transparent outer layer being constructed of a clear rubberized material.
 11. A customizable waterproof boot comprising: a sole portion; a foot portion comprising a waterproof material and connected to the sole portion; and a calf portion connected to the foot portion, the calf portion comprising a waterproof display sleeve having an inner layer comprising the waterproof material, a transparent outer layer comprising a transparent rubberized and waterproof material, a sealable opening for receiving at least one decorative insert, and a fastener for sealing the sealable opening.
 12. The customizable waterproof boot of claim 11, the boot further comprising: a top portion affixed to a top edge of the calf portion.
 13. The customizable waterproof boot of claim 11, comprising at least one insert inserted in the waterproof display sleeve between the inner layer and the transparent outer layer, each insert having a respective pattern.
 14. The customizable waterproof boot of claim 13, the at least one insert being constructed of a flexible material suitable for wrapping the at least one insert around the calf portion of the waterproof boot.
 15. The customizable waterproof boot of claim 11, wherein the fastener comprises a horizontal zipper for sealing the sealable opening at a top edge of the waterproof display sleeve.
 16. The customizable waterproof boot of claim 11, wherein the fastener comprises a vertical zipper for sealing the sealable opening along a rear surface of the calf portion.
 17. The customizable waterproof boot of claim 11, the waterproof display sleeve further comprising a vertical strip configured for obscuring an overlap of edges of an insert inserted in the waterproof display sleeve.
 18. The customizable waterproof boot of claim 11, the transparent outer layer being constructed of a clear rubberized material. 